Posted on
5/13/2008 2:54:04 PM
NBA Basketball Betting Playoff Picks – Can Magic Extend Series?
By Tim Furious
Orlando Magic (52-30) vs. Detroit Pistons (59-230)
Tuesday, May 13th --- Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit --- 7:00pm EST
Series: Det 3-1
NBA Betting Line: Detroit -6.5 (185.5)
Well that’s that. I’m done doubting the Pistons. Even without Chauncey Billups, Detroit managed to rock Orlando 90-89 thanks to a huge sports betting game by Rip Hamilton. It’s hard to imagine Orlando having anything left in the tank after leaving everything on the floor in Game 4 of the online betting series, and now having to play in Detroit.
Detroit is 7-1 SU and ATS in their last 8 sports betting games at home, where they average 97.5 offensive points and cripple teams to just 88.2 points per game. Unless Dwight Howard can emerge as Superman again, like he did against Toronto, than the Pistons aren’t in any big trouble. Problem is that Orlando’s Howard has played more like Clark Kent, and less like Superman.
The Magic are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games when playing in Detroit, which doesn’t bode well for their betting investors. They’re also 1-11 SU in their last 12 games when visiting the Motor City. The only thing you can be sure of tonight is Orlando struggling big time.
Just don’t remind Jameer Nelson of all that.
Nelson, the tenacious point man for the Magic, opened his big mouth and guaranteed a win. And here we were thinking that Rashard Wallace was the idiot savant in this series. Nelson may not have to deal with Billups, but Rodney Stuckey is astoundingly confident at the position and the Piston’s NBA betting faithful now understand that Billups isn’t the make-or-break of this team.
There’s a reason that the Pistons have been to the Eastern Conference Finals for the past five years – they’re one of the best teams. They’re not five guys. They’re not one guy and four supporting players. They are the Pistons, and I’m done doubting.
NBA Betting Free Pick: Detroit -6.5 (OVER)
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